Skip to content

Belfast's Assembly Rooms on global list of 'at risk' heritage sites

The World Monuments Fund A beige and white square building with five windows on the first floor and a crest above the door. Each window has a pillar on either side, and there are a further four windows on the ground floor.The World Monuments Fund
Built in 1769, the Assembly Rooms building is located at the corner of North Street and Waring Street in Belfast

Belfast's Assembly Rooms have been placed alongside buildings in Gaza and Ukraine on a list of global "at risk" heritage sites.

The historic building belongs to the English company behind the delayed Tribeca development in Belfast's city centre.

The Assembly Rooms have been placed on the 2025 "watch list" by the World Monuments Fund (WMF).

The list identifies sites across the world that face "major challenges such as climate change, tourism, conflict and natural disaster".

The World Monuments Fund / Getty A stone coloured mosque in the shape of a square, there are arches surrounding the square. In the centre of the mosque is rows of people praying on mats. In the left hand corner of the mosque is a stone coloured tower, the background is also filled with various stone buildings.The World Monuments Fund / Getty
The Great Omari Mosque is Gaza's oldest mosque

Built in 1769, the Assembly Rooms are at the corner of North Street and Waring Street.

It was the site of the famous Belfast Harp Festival in 1792, which led to the preservation of the ancient tradition of Irish harping.

It also hosted a meeting in 1786 which blocked a slave trading company from being set up in Belfast.

More recently it was home to the Northern Bank, but it has lain empty for about 20 years.

In 2003, it was added to the Ulster Architectural Heritage's "at risk" register.

'Game changer'

John Gray, wearing a cap, glasses, dark jacket, blue shirt and brown tie
John Gray from the Assembly Rooms Alliance said the building in Belfast city centre is endangered

Campaigners for the preservation of the Assembly Rooms have welcomed the WMF's support to save it.

John Gray, from the Assembly Rooms Alliance, called it a "game changer".

"The powers that be and the community at large will recognise that this is a really serious project we're engaged in," he said.

"There's no longer any excuse for shilly-shallying over bringing it into public ownership."

He said that the building was "the scene of many of the historic events in Belfast's development".

"It's falling apart inside as well," he said.

"It's endangered."

'International recognition'

Dr Irene Boada Montagut, from the Museum of the Troubles and Peace project, said that the Assembly Rooms would be an ideal venue for the museum.

"It's a wonderful building, it's very much a neutral space, very central," she said.

"We would like to contribute to make this fabulous building to be refurbished and to be open.

"This international recognition is for Belfast and its people."

Dr Irene Boada Montagut with blonde hair, who is wearing a dark jacket
Dr Irene Boada Montagut said it was "absolutely significant" that the WMF had highlighted the risk to the building

She said it was "absolutely significant" that the WMF had highlighted the risk to the building.

"The most prestigious organisation in this area is choosing the Assembly Rooms in Belfast to protect it, to give us support," she added.

"We need the people of Belfast, of Northern Ireland, we need the organisations and our institutions to join this movement."

The World Monuments Fund A rectangular white stone building with a curved feature at the front and a dome shaped roof. There are 17 windows across the curved part and a further 4 windows on the flat front of the building. There are steps up to a double wooden door.The World Monuments Fund
The Kyiv City Teacher's House in Ukraine also features on the list

The 2025 watch list includes Gaza's historic buildings, Ukraine's Teacher's House in Kyiv, Africa's Swahili Coast and the Chapel of the Sorbonne in France.

The WMF is an independent international organisation based in New York dedicated to the protection of historic architecture and heritage.

The organisation said the Assembly Rooms were "in need of substantial conservation".

The World Monuments Fund A bird's eye view of Paris in France, the grey roof tops of various buildings can be seen including spire tops, flat roods and dome shaped roofs. Most of the buildings have light stone coloured walls.The World Monuments Fund
Sorbonne Chapel is located in the Latin Quarter of Paris

John Darlington, from the WMF, said that the watch list had started in 1996 and highlighted important sites across the world that were at risk.

"They're important because of their local resonance but also their international resonance," he told BBC News NI.

"They need attention now.

"People know and appreciate it locally, but actually an international audience is also finding this place really exciting.

"There are many things that we can learn from it that go well beyond the sight and sound of the actual building."

Emma Sweeney, from the WMF, said the Assembly Rooms was "a really significant building in the heart of the city".

"The 19th century facade was designed by Sir Charles Lanyon, the architect who also designed Queen's University, Belfast," she said.

"It also has a really great proposal to turn it back into a cultural heritage venue for the people of Belfast.

"It was always a place of convening and it has an opportunity to do that again.

"This is an incredible asset."

The World Monuments Fund The blue sea crashing against the wall along the Swahili Coastline. There is a brown building on the left hand side and directly in front of the camera there are several white coloured buildings.The World Monuments Fund
Africa's Swahili Coast is an area with a long and unique cultural history

BBC News NI has contacted Castlebrooke Investments and Belfast City Council regarding the WMF's move.

Castlebrooke had previously said they had engaged regularly with Belfast City Council about a potential civic use for the building which they remained open to, if suitable commercial terms could be agreed.

In a statement, Belfast City Council said maintenance of the Assembly Rooms is the responsibility of the building owner.

"Belfast City Council has enforcement powers where a building is deemed dangerous, or where works are urgently necessary to preserve a listed building and will take enforcement action if it is considered necessary to do so," it added.

"Council officers are continuing to explore the possibility of acquisition and/or vesting of the Tribeca site as agreed by council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee."